MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Çewlig – Sevim Bayatkara learned how to produce cheeses from her mother. Over time, she learned how to produce local cheeses and butter and opened a shop to sell her dairy products 15 years ago. She has recently expanded her business overseas.

She started her business when people liked cheeses made by her

Sevim began to sell her homemade dairy products to the people she knows, “I never thought to sell the products.  But when people asked me to make cheeses for them, I began to think of selling them. I opened my own shop to sell them. I buy milk from villages and make butter and local cheeses. I make all dairy products in my shop. This shop is both my home and workplace.”

“I receive orders from people living abroad”

Shortly after opening her shop in Çewlig (Bingöl) province, she began to receive orders from local people and people living abroad. “Before, there was no female shop owner in Bingöl. But now the number of female shop owners is increasing. Women encourage each other. I am happy to work and stand on my own legs.”

“Women of Bingöl should participate in the labor force”

Sevim Bayatkara wants to expand her business and calls on all women to participate in the labor force. “Especially women of Bingöl should start their own business. Women can work in all sectors. They just need to believe in themselves.”